Houses bill to clarify the
commonwealths status is hardly a model for clarity Puerto
Rico didnt ask to be a U.S. possession. It was ceded to the
United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War.

Today, the era of U.S.
colonialism officially is over. Unofficially, that wasnt
easily discernible to those who tuned in to C-SPANs live
coverage of the Houses debate last week on the Caribbean
islands status. As a condition for allowing a plebiscite ,
some lawmakers tried to demand that English be adopted as Puerto
Ricos official language. Fortunately, less imperial voices
prevailed. The House attached an amendment to its status bill
that requires Puerto Rico to promote the teaching of English,
rather than its imposition.

The contentious 12-hour debate
was significant. It marked the first time that Congress has
approved a measure to clarify the status of the commonwealth. The
House approval was by a floss-thin margin, 209-208. It was
indicative of the deep emotional taproot that the status question
unearths. Both in the United States and in Puerto Rico. If the
Senate passes its version of a status bill, Puerto Rico then
would be required to hold an election. The options are:
independence, statehood, or continued commonwealth status.
Realistically, the issue is between continued commonwealth status
or statehood. In the last status vote three years ago,
commonwealth edged statehood 48.6 to 46.3. Independence eked out
only 4.4 percent.

Critics say the House bill
unfairly nudges the ballot in favor of statehood. Thats
valid criticism. The bills language says that statehood
would guaranteed U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans, implying
that a vote for commonwealth status would jeopardize the
islanders current status as citizens.

In fact, this was the conundrum
that fueled the unrelenting intensity of the debate. It divided
Puerto Rican lawmakers as well as the conservative House
Republicans. Admittedly, the Houses bill limped off the
floor. Its redemptive feature is that it puts the issue
where it belongs - squarely in the hands of the residents of
Puerto Rico.

Instead of ducking the issue
entirely as it seems wont to do, the Senate should accept the
challenge of producing a measure unfettered by jingoistic
language mandates and veiled threats against citizenship. Puerto
Ricans deserve a chance to vote on a clean bill - one not laden
with the imprimatur of paternalism. They need the chance to make
a clear choice about their future.